title: Telepathology requires specific training for the technician in the biomedical laboratory.
abstract: The Italian Laurea for Health Care Professionals furnishes a high level of learning to technical personnel who will be involved in the healthcare system. It also represents a test for new models of learning in e-health and telemedicine applications. The purpose of this work was to investigate the changes in the biomedical laboratory curriculum in the healthcare system as a result of the introduction of telepathology (TP). Changes were categorized in two stages. The first stage was the inclusion of the TP as a support methodology using external furnishers to digitize the glass slides. The second is the inclusion of the TP as a consolidated routine methodology using a dedicated internal scanner to digitize the glass slides. New modules of learning have been designed to run on the wide area network to allow a better familiarization with new technologies. These new methodologies have been tested and present three tangible advantages: (1) A high level of knowledge for the student; (2) A cost-benefit advantage to the student; and (3) A cost-benefit advantage to the hospital. As the biomedical laboratories are freed up from academic applications, they thus become more available for clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Tecnologie e Salute, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. giansanti@ieee.org
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giansanti
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castrichella
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Giovagnoli
mesh_terms: D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000193:education; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003479:Curriculum; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000193:education*; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000193:education*; D019113:Telepathology / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface